Visible-light-induced strong oxidation capacity of metal-free carbon nanodots through photo-induced surface reduction for photocatalytic antibacterial and tumor therapy

Huiqi Zhang; Quansheng Cheng; Josh Haipeng Lei; Tianwei Hao; Chu-Xia Deng; Zikang Tang; Songnan Qu

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.032

Visible-light-induced strong oxidation capacity of metal-free carbon nanodots through photo-induced surface reduction for photocatalytic antibacterial and tumor therapy

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2023 Aug 15:644:107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.032. Epub 2023 Apr 20.

Authors

Huiqi Zhang¹, Quansheng Cheng¹, Josh Haipeng Lei², Tianwei Hao³, Chu-Xia Deng⁴, Zikang Tang⁵, Songnan Qu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
² Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
³ Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
⁴ Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Macau; Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
⁵ Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, 999078, Macau; Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, 999078, Macau.
⁶ Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, 999078, Macau; Department of Physics and Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, 999078, Macau; MOE Frontier Science Centre for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, 999078, Macau. Electronic address: songnanqu@um.edu.mo.

PMID: 37105034
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.032

Abstract

Biocompatible metal-free carbon dots (CDs) with good photo-induced strong oxidation capacity in aqueous solutions are scarce for high-performance photocatalytic antibacterial and tumor therapy. In this work, we achieved effective visible light-induced cell death and antibacterial performance based on biocompatible metal-free CDs. The visible-light-induced reducing ability of the surface electron-withdrawing structure of the CDs allowed for the remaining photo-induced holes with high oxidation capacity to oxidize water molecules and generate hydroxyl radicals. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were effectively inhibited by the CDs under xenon lamp irradiation with 450 nm long pass filter. Moreover, CD-based tumor photocatalytic therapy in mice was achieved using a xenon lamp with 450 nm long pass filter (0.3 W cm^-2).

Keywords: Antibacterial; Carbon nanodots; Photo induced oxidation capacity; Tumor photocatalytic therapy; Visible light.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Carbon* / chemistry
Light
Metals
Mice
Neoplasms*
Oxidation-Reduction
Water

Substances

Carbon
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Metals
Water